Our forest in Südwestfalen

Our forest is changing

What do you particularly appreciate about the Sauerland or Siegen-Wittgenstein? Certainly the relaxing exercise in the natural landscape of our attractive outdoor region. Is this all in danger in view of the disturbing reports about the bark beetle plague or a new forest dieback? No, but our landscape will fundamentally change - have to change.

Our forest is only partly really "our" forest.

Hikers, cyclists, walkers seek recreation in "their" forests. For tens of thousands of private and public forest owners in the Sauerland and Siegen-Wittgenstein, however, it is an economic area and thus also an important source of income and often also a livelihood. For all of them together, it is a protector for which we must work hard together. As citizens and visitors, we are guests in these commercial forests and will actively experience the process of change over many years, probably decades. The reason for this is a severe permanent crisis: storms, heat, drought and pests have weakened the forest stands - throughout NRW and also in the Sauerland and Siegen-Wittgenstein. This is changing the face of our densely forested landscape - but also in a positive way. Nature experts, forestry specialists, forest owners regularly sit down together and work out strategies to save our forests in the homeland. It's all about reforestation with resistant species and sustainable concepts. Until now, forests in this country have been heavily dominated by spruce crops; in the future, they will be reforested in a much more diverse way. The forest will become more species-rich and more attractive.

The joint project "Our Forest in Südwestfalen" deals with current developments in the local forests. We answer frequently asked questions, provide background information and let experts have their say in short videos.